The Goat Sanctuary in Alderley Edge, Cheshire is now the largest of its kind in the UK. It was established in May 1998 and now has around 160 goats in its care. Many of the goats arrive suffering from malnutrition, lice, worms and lameness. Some have been gifted into us from caring people who can no longer look after their pets for many reasons. But many arrive abandoned, miss-treated and unwanted.
We take in goats from the Highlands of Scotland, Wales, North West and North East England, the Midlands and as far south as Gloucestershire.
Our objective is to improve the welfare of goats and give care, protection and permanent security to goats in need through sickness, maltreatment and abandonment.
The goats are cared for by me and a small, but very important team of volunteers, including my husband, plus Dave the Vet.
Goats are kept by people for various reasons, as pets, to produce milk and cheese, for fibre and sometimes simply to clear areas of land other farm animals would turn their noses up at.
Goats are inquisitive, intelligent, playful and generally co-operative (although you will always get the odd grump). They are a herd animal and should never live without the company of at least one other goat.
We have three separate herds at the sanctuary. In the wild a goat will live in a herd of about 45 but as our goats are not related to each other bullying can take place and we have to keep a close eye on the more placid ones during the day when they are all playing out. All the goats have their own room at night or share with 1 or 2 friends.
All our supporters are most welcome to visit the goats and spend time cuddling and fussing them all. There is no shortage of attention seekers here and there are a number of “professional fabric testers”, that is, don’t wear your best clothes, if it’s an option between hay or your woolly in their mouth the woolly wins hooves down. Be in no doubt, you will be put under personal inspection!
This web site would not be complete without mentioning my first goats, Sonny and Cher. Sadly, both passed away a few years ago, but their memory lives on through the existance of The Goat Sanctuary. Had it not been for Sonny and Cher, I would not have started the sanctuary.
Cheryl